Scarlets East U16s took on their West rivals in the Parc y Scarlets rain on Wednesday evening, with the East emerging with the spoils by four tries to two.
With 65 players involved in the contest, the match was split in three periods of 25 minutes.
It was the East who were out of the blocks first thanks to wing Iestyn Messer (Ysgol Bryngwyn & Felinfoel RFC), who intercepted a loose pass inside the West 22 to cross in the corner.
A powerful line-out surge saw hooker Cole Lacey (Ysgol Dyffryn Amman & Amman Utd RFC) plough over for a second after 14 minutes, but the West’s response was swift thanks to flying winger Noa Harries (Ysgol Bro Teifi & Newcastle Emlyn RFC), who intercepted from 60 metres out and showed great pace to outstrip the cover to the line.
It wasn’t an evening for free-flowing rugby, but to their credit, both sets of players looked to give the ball width.
It was the boys from the west who dominated the early exchanges of the second period and were rewarded with a close-range try from second row Lewis Dennison (Ysgol Henry Tudor & Pembroke RFC).
But after gaining good field position close to the West line, a slick blindside line-out move saw Lacey put into space for his second of the night. Fly-half Toby Slater (Ysgol Dyffryn Amman & Amman Utd) nailed a brilliant touchline conversion.
The third period produced just one score and it went to the East with good hands sending hooker Theo James (Ysgol y Strade, Furnace) diving over for his side’s fourth try.